The Times - UK (2021-12-18)

the times Saturday December 18 2021

Travel 37

the sand, for lingering sundowners. Eat
just-caught fish around the grand
Balinese dining table and, later, head to
Marigot Bay marina to people-watch
among the super-yachts.
Details Seven nights’ self-catering for
12 from £11,679 (jamesvillas.co.uk).
Fly to St Lucia

The Love Shack Anguilla
Don’t get the wrong idea from the name
— there’s little that is shack-like about
this traditional, two-storey Caribbean
house with its baby-blue shutters and
balconies, staring straight out to sea
over its pool. Here, guests idle on the
loungers, snoozing in the shade of
turquoise umbrellas or squinting at
the smudge of St Martin in the
distance. Gather up your beach bag
and walk to Elsie Bay — a favourite
pit-stop for islanders — and float in
the bath-warm waters, arriving back
at the Love Shack for sundowners on
the porch.
Details Seven nights’ self-catering for
eight from £6,133 (sjvillas.co.uk).
Fly to Anguilla

Sunrise Jamaica
Competition for all-singing, all-dancing
villas in this neck of the woods is as stiff
as the rum cocktails served on the
island, so it’s encouraging to find an
extra wholesome touch at this

restorative spot where the cook, Monica,

has been at the helm for 17 years.

Wooden furniture and neat

bedspreads add a homely feel to

the ceiling-fanned bedrooms.

Take the paddleboard down

to the beach just a few steps

from the villa, launching

into water as clear as glass,

or tee off a round of golf

in the neighbouring

Tryall Club.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for eight from

£8,512, including flights

(redsavannah.com)

Little Good

Harbour House

Barbados

Sleepier than Barbados’s glitzy west

coast is the parish of St Lucy, where this

New England-style beach house sits.

The interiors play on cool coastal colours

and driftwood accessories. The three

bedrooms lead to terraces dotted with

loungers beneath shady palms. An

infinity pool completes the picture, and

you’re on hand for the Fish Pot

restaurant, famed for its barbecue

prawns. However, the standing ovation

deservedly goes to the villa’s location —

throw back the sheets each morning and

wade straight into the sparkling waters

just a pebble’s throw from your bed.

Details Seven nights’ self-catering for

six from £7,692, including flights

(cvvillas.com)

Saman House, Cap

Maison St Lucia

Follow the scents of jasmine, hibiscus

and frangipani as you approach the

ultra-private Saman House at Cap

Maison, one of St Lucia’s grande-dame

resorts in the far north of the island.

There’s space for up to eight and a big

kitchen, although you’ll want to fire up

the barbecue on the terrace alongside

the pool. If you really don’t want to lift

a finger, you can call in a private chef.

All this, plus diving, sailing, swimming

and scenic hikes taking in the Pitons,

St Lucia’s twin volcanic spires.

Details Seven nights’ self-catering for

eight from £5,582 (capmaison.com).

Fly to St Lucia

The Villas at Stonehaven

To b a g o

There’s nothing intimidatingly fancy

about this collection of villas and that all

adds to the charm. That’s not to say they

aren’t lovely — bedrooms come with

romantically draped four-posters

and sea-gazing balconies; you

might cool off in the shade of

the deep verandahs or the

infinity pools. However,

you’re here for the activities

too. Hike through

rainforest beneath

gargantuan leaves and

take a dip in waterfalls

far beyond the tourist

trail. Tobago’s diving is

excellent too, or try

twilit paddleboarding,

when the soft glow of

bioluminescence morphs

through the water.

Details Seven nights’ self-catering

for two from £3,198, including flights

(caribtours.co.uk)

Estate Homes at

Calabash Grenada

On the island renowned for its chocolate

and spice you’ll find all things nice at

these three villas: Hummingbird,

Caribali and Treefrog. On a peninsula in

the southwest of the island, each has

direct access to the beach, as well as

infinity pools, contemporary art on the

walls and bespoke furniture — the

butterscotch leather sofas and wicker

sleigh beds are especially pleasing. You’re

tucked away on a hillside west of the

Calabash hotel; walk or take the villa’s

golf buggy over to use the spa and

beach club, and for a high-end dinner

at Rhodes restaurant.

Details Seven nights’ self-catering for

ten from £19,750, including flights

(inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk)

Almond Hill Jamaica

In an area of juggernaut resorts Almond

Hill is a serene four-bed bolt hole on a

former plantation, ringed by wild palms

with teasing views of the Caribbean in

the distance. Open the shutters to gaze

at the gardens from your pillow, flop on

to the sofas in the library or chat over

cocktails on the airy terrace. The

centrepiece, though, is undoubtedly the

large pool — and the all-frills facilities

— spa, water sports and more — of the

renowned Round Hill Estate on

Montego Bay.

Details Seven nights’ self-catering for

eight from £11,984, including flights

(redsavannah.com)

Grenadine Hills Bequia

Dipping in a tiny plane towards

pint-sized Bequia, you’ll spot bands of

green rising from a halo of golden sand

like the ridges of a dragon’s back.

One of the Grenadine islands, Bequia

feels mellow and unvarnished, without

too many visitors; there are beaches

where you may find yourself alone.

Grenadine Hills is a duo of villas

perched above Friendship Bay. They

have private pools with shallow ends for

little feet. A butler, housekeeper and chef

come as standard, and loungers and cosy

seating mean there’s plenty of space in

which to lie back and admire the view.

Details Seven nights’ B&B for ten

from £12,600 (grenadinehills.com).

Fly to Bequia

Four Seasons Nevis

This idyllic resort sits plum on the sands

with all the extravagant touches you’d

expect from Four Seasons, including

impressive restaurants, three pools and

a spa. As well as the resort’s rooms and

suites there are two to five-bedroom

villas. Neutral colour palettes and

white bedding soften the mahogany

furniture; large terraces come

with plenty of comfy sofas for a

mid-afternoon snooze. Hibiscus-

speckled gardens surround the private

pools. Do try to drag yourself away,

though, even for a rainforest hike: you

might spot hummingbirds or monkeys.

Details Seven nights’ B&B for four from

£25,576, including flights (akvillas.com) W

Grenadine Hills, Bequia

Almond Hill, Jamaica

CHRISTIAN HORAN; FOUR SEASONS